Unfortunately, the Falcons have yet to be in the news for any free-agent signings during this busy time of the year for most NFL teams. It is going to be a relatively quiet offseason as Atlanta hopes to bounce back from a dismal 7-9 campaign that could have been a lot worse had the Falcons not ended on a three-game winning streak. They did make the news for a separate reason, however, as the NFL announced their annual participants for the Hall of Fame Game.
The Falcons will be battling with the Denver Broncos in Canton, Ohio on August 1st to open up the league’s pre-season. Both teams have representatives that will be entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame that week. Tony Gonzalez – who played his final five seasons in Atlanta, making three Pro-Bowls – will be inaugurated into football heaven. For the Broncos, 12-time Pro-Bowler, Champ Bailey, will enter the club along with their owner Pat Bowlen.
This will be the second time Atlanta has participated in the game. Denver has been it on four separate occasions. As far as football is concerned, it gives both teams an extra pre-season game and some extra time to practice. Given how the Falcons and Broncos performed last year; they can both use it.